Sliding ball hitch for automobiles



J1me 1949- R. v. CROSLEY 2,474,231

SLIDING BALL HITCH FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 29, 1947 1: I elk/6 1 7 22 v INVENTOR. R0406 Cros/ey Patented June 28, 1949 U STATES ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to automobile hitches.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile hitch which can be withdrawn when put into use and which when not in use can be slid into the rear bumper construction to an out-of-way position and wherein all of the operable parts of the hitch will be enclosed and concealed so as not to be conspicuous and also to prevent dirt or water from engaging with the parts whereby to render them less operative.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a sliding automobile hitch adapted to be connected to the rear of the automobile which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understandof the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rear of the automobile, the rear bumper and the sliding hitch embodying the feature of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view looking upon the bumper with the cover plate disposed between i the bumper parts to conceal the hitch and showing the bumper as it will appear from the rear of the automobile.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through the cover plate and the hitch as viewed on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 1 except the hitch is shown in the extended position and attached to a trailer or the like.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view looking upon the hitch after the same has been withdrawn from its casing and to a point rearwardly of the bumper part.

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on line 6-5 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the top cover plate forming a part of the casing for concealing the hitch.

Referrin now to the figures, ll! represents a channel piece which is adapted to be fastened to the automobile frame and extending from one side frame of the same to the other side frame piece. On the open face of the channel piece l0 there are connected at laterally spaced positions bracket members H and 12 to which the inner ends of bumpers it are respectively connected. Inasmuch as the bumpers are in two parts, damage to one of the parts will not necessitate a complete removal of a bumper for replacement. Within the channel It! there isprovided a casing i l having portions extending laterally along the brackets H and I2 and in rear thereof and which casing contains a slidable block [5 with wing portions I6 thereon adapted to engage with shoulder portions ll of the casing It as the block I5 is withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 4. When the block has been withdrawn, a ball hitch portion it will be presented for connection with a complementary socket formed on a hitch member is of a trailer 2! or the like.

The casing it is of T-shape and includes a top piece 22. While the block i5 is concealed within the casing I4 it is prevented from rattling by means of springs 22 and 23 engaging with the side walls of the casin It.

In order to lock the block it in its extended position there is provided a catch 24 adapted to be raised upwardly by a spring 25 as the block is moved outwardly so that its upwardly extending flange 26 will be seated over the forward edge of the top casing plate 22. This catch 24 must be depressed to permit the block l5 to be slid inwardly into the casing M for storage.

With the block 15 returned to the interior of the casing, the opening of the casing can be closed by a plate 28 which is secured by screws 29 to the bumper elements [3. Vertical plates 3! can be secured to the bumper elements i3 and to the brackets H and I2 by bolts 32.

Also there can be connected between the trailer hitch l9 and bracket H a chain 33 called a safety chain which the law requires on all two wheel trailers pulled by a. car or truck.

While various changes can be made in the detailed construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An automobile hitch device comprising a casing adapted to be connected to the rear of an automobile, said casing having an opening in its rear end and provided with interior shoulder portions, a block slidable in and out of the casing through the rear opening thereof and having portions adapted to engage with the shoulder portions of the casing whereby to limit its outward movement, said block having a recess with a sloping surface in the upper surface thereof, a latch plate with an upwardly extending lip on the outer edge positioned in said recess, a spring in the block for urging the plate upward to loch the block in the extended position, and means on the block adapted for the connection thereto of a hitch device of a trailer or the like.

2. An automobile hitch device comprising a casing adapted to be connected to the rear of an automobile, said casing having an opening in its rear end and provided with interior shoulder portions, a block slidable in and out of the casing through the rear opening thereof and having portions adapted to engage with the shoulder portions of the casing whereby to limit its outward movement, means on the block adapted for the connection thereto of a hitch device of a trailer or the like, and catch means on the block and adapted to engage with the casing to retain the block in its rearwardly extended position.

3. An automobile hitch device as defined in claim 1, and bracket elements adapted to be attached to the automobile frame on opposite sides of the casing, and said brackets serving for the attachment thereto of bumper elements, said bumper elements being at the same elevation as the hitch casing, and a cover plate adapted to extend across the opening of the casing and REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,309,850 Klawitter Feb. 2, 1943 20 2,425,838 Schultz Aug. 19. 1947 

